RALLY NEWS NO.1
Adare-Sunday 9 am
Today's Circuit of Munster brings together several major Championships - the
Dunlop National series, the 023 Tiles Southern 4, the Ford Ireland Focus and the
Top Part West Coast. What this means is that the spectators are in for a real
treat as the top drivers from the different series compete head to head
over today's fast flowing Munster stages. Last year's winner Tim McNulty heads
the 151 strong entry with his Impreza WRC, Tim, ironically, not really
contesting any of the above Championships, but here really, well, to win the
rally!
Those with other ideas include Michael Barrable, Eugene Donnelly, Ollie
O'Donovan, Maurice Gass, Adrian McElvaney, David Armstrong and a whole lot more.
Impreza WRC's are the order of the day, just Liam McCarthy (Corolla WRC) and
David Armstrong (Escort WRC) breaking the Subaru mould. On his last outing, on
the Killarney Rally of the lakes, McCarthy was going really hard until a
transmission hydraulic fault halted progress. David Armstrong has also been
flying recently, but punctures in Carlow robbed him of victory, and then niggly
mechanical problems in Cavan last week held him back. He reckons however his
Escort WRC will love these fast flowing Munster roads. Still, it is hard to look
past the Subarus. In theory at least the man who should go really well here is
Michael Barrable. With his wealth of race as well rally experience, and such a
good car, Michael, current Dunlop Championship leader, could be the man to beat.
Equal 2nd in the Dunlop National points Eugene Donnelly and Adrian McElvaney,
are not exactly slouches either. Adrian remarked about his ex Kevin Barrett
Subaru. "It doesn't handle that well at the back, very twitchy over the
bumps, but these smooth fast stages should suit it better." Eugene
Donnelly, stunningly fast on his way to winning in Cavan last week, observed,
"I don't normally like fast stages, but these roads, although fast, are
deceptive. There's a lot of driving in them, and of course they're the
same for everybody". Defending National Champion Niall Maguire,
although entered are No.3, isn't here this weekend. His partner Susan gave birth
to a little boy on Friday.
Other top drivers missing from the top end of the original entry list include -
Peadar Hurson. Patrick Elliott. JJ Fleming. George Cullen and Kevin Barrett. We
mentioned Liam McCarthy above, he comes in from the reserves and runs with
No.156 on his Corolla, and will no doubt start in the top 10. Others coming in
from the reserves and running well up the field will include David McNulty in
his Escort Cosworth and Willie Fannin, co-driven by Brian Duggan, in a Gp.N
Lancer. On the subject of GpN, 023 Tiles sponsor James O'Sullivan has hired the
sister car to Fannin's from the John O'Leary stable and could spring a gpN
surprise. Other top gpN runners include Peter Clifford in his Impreza and
Derrick Jobb in his Lancer. Eoin Doyle, with Paul Walsh on the notes, is
debuting a brand new Prodrive Subaru Impreza. Eoin had a good test session on
Friday with the new machine and reports it very quick, quiet, full of torque.
In 023 Tiles Championship terms Maurice Gass has a good points lead and he has
vowed to give today's rally a real good cut. Maurice's Impreza WRC needed little
more than routine maintenance after its Killarney Lakes outing and is in top
fettle for today. Liam McCarthy could be Maurice's nearest challenger for the
023 points, but Denis Cronin in the BMW can't be ruled out. Defending 023
Champion Ollie O'Donovan is driving his own GpA Impreza and not the McKinstry
Impreza WRC as listed in the programme. Ollie has still to score 023 points this
year, having failed to finish in West Cork and Killarney. Ollie was fighting for
the lead of this Munster Rally last year, but reckons he doesn't know this
year's stages at all, as they are in a different area.
Further down the entry list we have the Ford Focus Championship cars. Colm
Murphy leads the points from John Foley, with Oliver Stanley 3rd. Interestingly,
all the cars were expertly tested on a rolling road this week, and were found to
be within 3 brake horse power of each other, with Colm Murphy's the lowest. Ken
Lyons is also entered in the Ford Focus, and was leading on the Lakes until he
slipped off the road, so he could go well here on his home patch.
Looking away from this rally briefly, George Robinson won yesterday's
Ballycastle Stage Rally, from Keith White, with John Donnelly 3rd, Seamus
Donnelly 4th and Philip Shaw 5th. Kevin Lynch crashed his Impreza WRC out on the
Orra Lodge stage. On the Mutiny Rally Roger Duckworth won from Steve Petch with
David Mann 3rd. Brendan Crealey was 4th overall and won gpN from Gavin Cox. Paul
Alexander, co driven by Jakes Kelly, retired when lying well up on stage 6 with
rear differential trouble. More news after stage 1. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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